Cowgirl Up (8 page)

“What
would Madeleine say if she saw you like this? All covered in mud from head to
tail?” Trinity
tsked
at the stallion
as she set the hose aside and grabbed a soapy sponge from the bucket at her
feet. He was crosstied in the center of
the bathing area, leaving her hands-free to scrub his dirty hide.

Victory
snorted and lowered his head as if in shame.

She bit
back a grin at his actions. The stud was in rare form today.

She’d
returned from Denver with a first prize check, a fancy saddle, and a truckload
of jet lag. The points really ratcheted her up in the standings and put her
name in the hat as a favorite to make it to the finals. With that came good and
bad. Less privacy as the media started to bug her for interviews, hoping to
prod her into telling Legacy’s story while other rodeo contestants dropped by,
all wanting to see a legend in the making up close and personal. She didn’t
sleep well and felt more protective of her stallion than ever.

Thankfully,
she was able to come home, let Legacy out in his paddock to just be a horse for
a few days without responsibilities and try to work through the fatigue wearing
on her after getting to bed in the wee hours of the morning. Two hours sleep
wasn’t near enough to make her brain even begin to function.

“I’d
say he had a lot of fun.”

Spinning
around, Trinity found Madeleine standing behind her with a wide smile on her
face.

“Madeleine!”
Trinity started toward her in welcome only to glance down and stop. Half the dirt
previously covering Victory’s rump now smudged her clothing. Add in the
dampness from the spray of the hose and she might as well have rolled in the
puddles with him. “I’d give you a hug, but…” She held out her arms and gestured
toward her present state.

“I
don’t mind a little dirt.” Madeleine gave her a quick squeeze, then stepped
back to study her horse.

Victory’s
ears pricked forward, then he stretched his neck and nickered softly to his
owner.

“Kissing
up again?” Madeleine raised an eyebrow.

He shook
his mane and stamped a foot.

Madeleine
laughed and rubbed his face. “Such a ham.”

Trinity
giggled at his antics, thrilled to see her mentor once more.

Without
missing a beat, Madeleine rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a spare sponge, dipped
it the bucket, then started scrubbing on the opposite side from Trinity. “I
hear you’re leading the Midwest standings.”

“Yeah,
but it’s really early yet.” Trinity didn’t dare let her present achievements go
to her head. Too many variables existed that could send her tumbling from first
place.

“Still,
better than last.” Madeline grinned at her over Victory’s back.

“True.”

“And
that record setting run in Denver…that was amazing. You sure got the tongues to
wagging up there.”

Trinity
smiled. “Yeah. It was great to come in as the newbie and leave them all with
their mouths hanging open. But, along with fame comes unwanted attention.” She
frowned recalling how the reporters chased after her and pressured her to let
them take tons of pictures and video of Legacy. She put her foot down and
shooed them all away. While Legacy didn’t seem to mind the attention too much,
she didn’t want him upset. The last thing she needed was one of them
threatening to sue her because he got horse bit.

“All
part of the game. I think you handled yourself very well, though. Didn’t let
them bully you into anything.”

“Thanks.
After that small experience, I can’t imagine what you went through with Another
Victory Gallop through the Triple Crown run. The world must have been beating
on your door.”

“It’s
not for the timid or meek, I’ll say that.” Madeleine shrugged. “Just hold your
ground, and don’t let them rile you. That’s the best advice I can offer on
that.”

“Okay.”

They
worked in companionable silence for a while, both grinning when Victory groaned
in happiness and relaxation as they shifted from washing to brushing. His ears
were at half-mast, his head down, and one foot cocked, resembling an old, loved
pony, just lazing his days away. At the most expensive horse hotel around.

“Have
you thought about what you’re going to do when the rodeo season is finished?”

Trinity
shook her head, then clarified, “I’ve been thinking, but nothing sounds good
right now.”

“Carmen
brags about you all the time. She’d keep you on forever. Says you’re the
hardest worker and the boys love you.” Madeleine grabbed a comb and went to
work on Victory’s mane.

“I
really like it here, but…” Trinity paused and swallowed around the lump
suddenly in her throat. “Sometimes I just want to go elsewhere. See what the
world has to offer.” In reality, everyone had welcomed her with open arms.
Carmen went so far as to present her an open invitation to dinner any time at
the main house, which she called home. Trinity showed up now and again, but
mainly hung out in her one room apartment at the end of stallion barn A. It had
all the amenities of home, but in a small package. Just right for her and her
needs. Besides, she stayed close to Legacy, just down the aisle, in fact. A
comfort to her when the sorrows threatened to engulf her at night.

“Fine
aspirations. I did that myself. Long ago.”

“And
see how well that turned out.” Trinity didn’t know a whole lot about
Madeleine’s life, but she’d ended up on top of the world, which said something.
She hadn’t married into money like other women. She’d made it herself. The hard
way. Earning her way up the ladder one rung at a time.

“Uh-huh.
Truth be told, I learned a lot on the road. Namely, the highways are long, it’s
damn lonely, and there’s no place like home.”

Trinity
absorbed the words, tossed them around, and analyzed. “Maybe. But, perhaps you
have to take a leap of faith in order to find something besides what you had.
To spread your wings and start anew.” There, she’d vocalized her latest
ponderings, even if they sounded a bit hollow to her own ears.

Madeleine
reached up and grabbed Trinity’s hand as she ran the currycomb down the center
of the horse’s back. When Trinity met her gaze, she offered up a soft smile.
“Don’t you know pain is portable?”

The
statement hit Trinity in the gut. She drew in a deep breath, then resumed her
work, in dire need of a distraction before she fell apart and started sobbing
once more. She’d shed an ocean of tears already and crying did little more than
make her eyes puffy, her nose run, and leave her wrung out. Over the past
several months nothing good came of her pity parties. Thus, she’d vowed to lift
her chin and cowgirl up.

One
small question remained. “What do you do when there’s no home left?” The
whispered words came straight from her soul.

“Oh,
honey.” Madeleine walked around to Trinity’s side and wrapped her in a strong
hug.

Trinity
soaked up the support and fought her emotions, finally stepping back in order
to wipe at her eyes. She had blubbered like a child before and refused to drop
to that level again. As a grown woman, she needed to get a grip. Now.

Madeleine
kept hold of her upper arms and studied her with an understanding gaze. “You
know there’s a lot of people that care about you. You’ll always have a home
here. With Carmen. With me in California.” She smiled down at her in a true
motherly expression. “No matter where you go, we’ll always be here.”

Trinity
nodded and collected herself with an iron will. “Thank you.” Madeleine, Carmen,
and the rest of the staff at the farm had been totally supportive since she
arrived. They’d shared their lives and always invited her along for the ride.
Trinity didn’t always accept, enjoying a good deal of alone time, but they
never put her down. In truth, they’d become a surrogate family. An odd one, but
highly appreciated.

Madeleine
patted her shoulder and gave her a nudge. “We better get back to work. I see
another client for the spa treatment already lining up.”

Trinity
followed her gaze only to find Legacy standing in his stall, a replica of
Victory an hour ago, covered entirely in mud. She groaned loudly.

“Like
father, like son.” Madeleine chuckled, traded brush for cloth, then earnestly
returned to her task.

Legacy had
patiently waited his turn as they finished Victory. Trinity crosstied him then
collected the hose once more. After showering him off, she grabbed the sponge
and went to work once again. Madeleine took the opposite side to move the chore
along faster.

“Have
you found a man who interests you, yet?”

The
offhanded question surprised Trinity. Madeleine, in many ways, stepped into a
surrogate mother role when her own mother passed. But, they’d never really
discussed her personal life before. Not that she had anything to hide. When she
dropped in bed early every night and hadn’t had a date in years, there wasn’t
much to tell.

She
considered the query before answering, “Not really.”

“Hmm.
Sounds like there might be a guy who has caught your attention.” Madeleine
waggled her eyebrows at Trinity over Legacy’s back.

Trinity
shook her head. “Okay. Okay. There might be one. He’s a vet on the circuit.
Nice guy. I had a crush on him as a high school kid.”

“And?”

“And
nothing. We chat at the rodeos in between my racing and his checking on the
livestock. That’s about it. We’re sort of friends, I guess.”

“But
you’d like more?” Madeleine exchanged her sponge for the hose once more.

“I
don’t know. I guess a part of me would like to step into that light, but the
timing isn’t right.”

Madeleine
smiled knowingly. “Honey, the timing is never right. But, I’ll say this. My
life would have been so much different without Richard. He made the days
golden, showed me a different way of looking at things, and always made sure I
felt loved. In the sack…oh, man could he deliver.”

Trinity’s
face heated at Madeleine’s frankness. She’d read enough romance to understand
the glorious happenings when a man and woman matched up well and strove to
bestow pleasure on one another. Reading was one thing. Hearing about it from a
close friend, another. “TMI, Madeleine. TMI.”

The
older woman chuckled. “Just wait, Trin. One of these days, you’ll fall head
over heels and find yourself craving the touch of a certain man. He’ll open the
gates and you’ll find yourself wanton in his arms. You won’t give a damn what
anyone else thinks about how much time you spend in bed and what you do when
there.”

Trinity
shook her head. The thought didn’t stick. Not for her. Perhaps others with more
openness to sex. Maybe even those more experienced and randy. Certainly, she’d
seen enough evidence this year, and prior years, of such happenings. Some
things never changed at the rodeo circuit. Hot lust and hook ups seemed to be
one of them.

“Just
don’t give up on men until you’ve given them a try. The world can be a mighty
dull place without them.” Madeleine smiled knowingly and returned to her task.

“How
much do you charge for horse bathing?” Carmen’s voice carried across the area,
filled with welcome and humor. “I’m not sure I have enough in the budget to
cover a professional washer.”

Madeleine
glanced up and grinned ruefully at the newcomer. “Hmmm. How about you take it
out of this month’s rent for Victory’s stay?”

“That
should work.” Carmen approached, careful to stay out of the spray of the hose
and soapy water. “It’s good to see you again. Been too long since your last
visit.”

“Yeah,
I know. I love it here. Just hard to get away sometimes.”

Trinity
picked up on a hint of loneliness in Madeleine’s voice. Odd considering the
older woman had always been strong and adamant that she was happy in
California. Madeleine could travel the world constantly if she wanted, her vast
wealth would allow it and then some.

“You
could sell that mansion you call a home on the coast and move closer,” Carmen
voiced Trinity’s unspoken thought.

Madeleine
paused for a second to rinse her muddy sponge. “Don’t think I haven’t thought
about it.”

“Then
why haven’t you?” Trinity jumped in. “You can call anywhere your home base.
Besides, that way you’d be closer to your horses.”
And me.
Trinity didn’t add that part. Ever since her mother passed,
Trinity saw Madeleine as a maternal figure, someone with wisdom to depart and
an ear to listen. She hated to bug Madeleine and never wanted to be a pest, but
the honest truth was she needed another woman to talk to now and again. Carmen
worked fine in a pinch, but Madeleine possessed something special. More
matronly, maybe—a way of gently guiding and nudging without lectures and
criticism.

She
didn’t think at twenty-five she would need another mother. Turns out she did.
Not a replacement, just a good friend to lean on now and again.

Guess I’m never too old to be
alone.

The
thought spurred her back into the topic at hand—getting Madeleine to consider
moving to Kentucky.